Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Help me! Please! Help me!”
Mina was screaming like a banshee as she tore into the room, spurring Jackson to run toward her, ready to help.
He’d be damned if he let anything happen to her.
But as much as he was ready to protect her, he couldn’t help but notice she was practically naked, with her cute pink panties being the only stitch of clothing she had on. His eyes went wide as he watched her heavy breasts bouncing as she bounded toward him.
She leapt onto him, and in that moment, he was thankful he had the good fortune of being right there to welcome her into his open arms. Sure, he’d find out what was wrong. But he’d also enjoy the feeling of holding her close.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“There’s… something… in there!” she panted.
“You’re okay,” he said soothingly. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
Slater was already charging toward the staircase. “I’ll go see what’s up there.”
“Wait!” Mina cried.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Jackson asked.
She looked at him and then to Slater. “It’s a wolf!”
“Honey, there aren’t any wolves left in these parts,” Slater told her.
“He’s right. They were driven out of these mountains centuries ago. Now coyotes, yeah. We got a lot of ‘em,” Jackson explained.
He held her a little tighter. He hated that she was scared, but damn… he sure liked having her nearly naked body close.
“Well, there’s one up there! It wants to eat me! Be careful!” she warned in breathless, hurried words.
“You want me to go up there with you?” Jackson asked.
Slater grinned at him. “Yeah. But not because I need the help. If I leave you alone holding her like that, I’m liable to come back down and find you two being naughty without me! I’ll miss all the fun!”
Jackson just grinned right back at him. “Go on up. Let us get to it.”
Slater shook his head and scoffed before turning the corner to go toward the staircase. But Jackson was surprised when he didn’t see his friend disappear. Instead, he simply stood there for a moment before laughing. Finally, he said, “Well, I know all the wolves were driven from these mountains. But what about the packs of wild golden retrievers that used to roam these parts? I figured they’d all been banished. But sure enough, there’s one right here.”
Jackson continued watching as his friend stepped aside to allow a dog pass.
The friendly animal came off the stairs and ambled into the office.
Mina, who’d buried her eyes deep in Jackson’s shoulder, asked, “What’s happening? Are we going to be attacked?”
“With hugs and licks, maybe,” Jackson told her. “Go ahead and open your eyes, honey. It’s safe. I promise.”
It took her a moment, but he was glad when she finally looked up. He turned so she could see the events unfolding better.
Slater was squatting down now, petting the dog, as the retriever licked his hand.
“A doggy!” Mina cried excitedly, bouncing in Jackson’s arms.
He placed her feet carefully on the floor and said, “Go see the doggy, honey. I bet he’d love more attention.”
His eyes didn’t leave her as she hurried to the animal and bent down, her ass high in the air, barely covered by her pink bikini-cut panties that were now sagging a little.
Mmm. She looked delicious.
“Where did he come from?” she asked, rubbing the dog’s belly as he rolled over. “I mean, he was in my closet. But how did he get there?”
“That’s what I am to find out,” Jackson said. He started walking to the stairs and then stopped, casting a glance over his shoulder. “Slater, don’t go getting any ideas while I’m gone. You didn’t want me to take her all for myself. So don’t do it, either!”
Slater just guffawed. “We’ll see, brother. But I don’t make any promises.”
Jackson snorted and then headed upstairs. It didn’t take him long to put things together. He was back about five minutes later.
“I’m glad you’re still petting that dog,” he told Mina.
“What else would I be doing?”
“Well, being as how you’re pretty much naked, I was worried Slater there would have you bent over the desk, if you catch my drift. Honey, a man can only take so much.”
She gasped and stood quickly, as if just now realizing she only wore panties.
“Oh my gosh!” she said, frantically trying to cover her chest.
“We’ve done seen it now,” Slater said.
She sighed and hung her head in defeat. “Sorry. I’ve been so caught up in all this.” She looked at Jackson. “Where did he come from?”
“Best I can tell, he’s using the back staircase. That door isn’t secured well. I fixed it, got it latched and locked. But he’s made himself a little nest in the closet, seeking shelter. You probably didn’t even notice him when you put your clothes up after getting into town. Or he was out scavenging for food and came back later.” His eyes fell on the dog. “Poor thing looks scrawny. We need to wrestle him up some grub.”
“And we best have him looked over,” Slater suggested. “Make sure he’s okay. Gets the shots he needs and all that.”
“We’re keeping him?” Mina asked, the hopeful excitement evident in her voice.
Jackson sure liked what he heard. It seemed as if the question—the way she’d said we’re —meant that they were… well, something.
That could be explored later.
Right now, he just nodded and said, “We sure can’t turn him loose to fend for himself. Besides, I’ve been wanting a dog.”
“Me, too,” Slater said.
“Me, three!” Mina said.
Again, Jackson sure liked the sound of that.
Three.
As in the three of them.
“We could take him to Doc Belter,” he suggested, naming a vet he knew in the area.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Slater said, standing.
“Let’s go!” Mina said.
Both men chuckled.
“What?” she asked.
Jackson exchanged a smirk with Slater before looking at Mina and answering.
“Honey, me and your Uncle Slater are just fine with what you’re wearing. Or, rather, what you’re not wearing. But I reckon you should put some clothes on before we go to the vet’s place.”
Mina gasped and covered her face while she giggled again.
Damn. She was just too cute.